Rómulo Roux became the presidential candidate of the Cambio Democrático (CD) on Sunday night defeating his main adversary, deputy Yanibel Ábrego, in primary elections in which 50% of the 306,549 eligible to vote voted.

Roux, a 58-year-old lawyer, after being told that he was the winner said that his victory goes much further, and fired off a  flight of verbal arrows: “It is against Ricardo Martinelli and his entire political party, against the PRD and its candidate, against Benicio Robinson, against the Legislature, against the Executive and against everyone who wanted to maintain a corrupt system... This is a victory against parallel decentralization against the attempt to buy votes," he said.

Accompanied by his wife Victoria and their daughters, Roux promised that in 2024 he will dismantle the current political system. "We beat them, we beat them, “They handed out, they promised, and they take advantage of the needs of others. Today dignity triumphed, today conscience triumphed, today we send a loud and clear message that we are going to change this country in 2024”

He announced that his national tour will begin this week to seek support for future alliances. In the last two years, Roux has held talks with the president of the Panameñista Party, José Isabel Blandón; and with José Alberto Álvarez, president of the fledgling Social Independent Alternative Party (País). Last night, former congressman José Muñoz Molina, president of the Alianza party, was at the hotel from where Roux delivered his victory speech.

Roux, who reiterated that he will not make alliances with the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) or realizando Metas (RM), the political group founded by Martinelli, became the third presidential candidate for the May 5 elections. 2024.

RM chose Martinelli as its presidential standard-bearer, while the PRD chose Vice President, José Gabriel Carrizo.